Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 28 November 2024

Ups and downs in Lake Hāwea catchment

The water near the top of Lake Hāwea and its eastern shoreline has been murky and discoloured in the past week, which may be affecting catch rates. The Neck is not as clear as usual either.

This is due to dirty water entering the lake from the Hunter River, Dingle Burn and Timaru Creek following the wild weather earlier this month.

Pictured above: Stunning weather, stunning fish. Alex Wright with his first ever trout on the fly rod, a lovely-coloured rainbow trout. Credit: Angus Borrell.

Mark, from Southern Wild Wānaka, suggests trying in front of the Lake Hāwea campground if you're not having any luck at The Neck. One of his go-to lures is a green frog-coloured Tasmanian Devil. Mark says that when fishing with another angler, they often run the green lure on one rod and a hot pink lure on the other to cover their options.

On the positive side, recent heavy flows have dislodged banks and structures into the rivers, providing locations for trout to hold and feed. Large stonefly or worm imitations are good patterns for these early season fish. Otherwise, try brown and mānuka beetle patterns for fish sitting near the surface.

Remember, the Hunter River and Dingle Burn are Designated Waters, so require a valid Designated Waters licence to fish there. For more information of Otago’s Designated Waters click here.

Eye in the sky ‒ satellite imagery

The CawthronEye satellite image, from 30km above, shows discoloured water at the top of lakes Wakatipu (lower left) and Hāwea (top right) and in the large tributaries. Credit: CawthronEye.cawthron@org.nz.

No one likes driving for more than an hour to a river only to find the conditions unsuitable.

While flows and rainfall can often be checked using the ORC data portal, this resource does not show if a slip has come down or if snowmelt has turned the river a milky colour. That’s where satellite imagery comes in.

There are several satellite imagery tools available to help anglers and river users check real-time conditions. CawthronEye, for example, offers regularly updated satellite images of New Zealand and the world, displaying enhanced true-colour NASA imagery within as little as three hours. This makes it a useful tool for assessing lakes and rivers. For example, a glance at the CawthronEye today shows dirty water at the top of lakes Hāwea and Wakatipu and in large tributaries.

Another option is the Sentinel Hub EO Browser by Planet Labs, which allows users to explore satellite imagery from a range of sources, providing a detailed view of conditions in the area.

Teviot Angling Club celebrates 100 years

One of Teviot Angling Club's oldest members, Fred Booth (left), and club president Laurie Crossan cut the cake at the centenary celebration in Roxburgh on November 23, 2024. Credit: Ian Hadland.

On November 23, the Teviot Angling Club celebrated its centenary. Club president Laurie Crossan showcased historical fishing gear and acknowledged the contributions of past and present members, as well as his hard-working committee.

Otago Fish and Game chief executive Ian Hadland spoke about the changes and constants in angling, noting the enduring thrill of catching trout, the need for licences, and the single-rod rule. He also mentioned the upcoming 150-year milestone and commented with excitement about the formation of a lower Clutha sportsfish and habitat trust which will be dedicated to improving angling in the lower river. Laurie Crossan and Graeme Rae were honoured as life members for their significant contributions to the club.

Monsters in the dark

Nic Ashton with an 8lb rainbow caught at the Dunedin Southern Reservoir using a black Shimano Waxwing lure. Credit: Oliver Bary.

During the night, trout often feed more confidently and aggressively, making it a prime time to target larger fish.

They typically patrol the edges of lakes and rivers, hunting for baitfish or large insects. Larger flies, soft baits, or lures that create strong silhouettes against the night sky are effective, as trout focus on contrast and movement in low-light conditions rather than colour. Black and other dark hues cast the most pronounced silhouettes and are favoured by many successful nighttime anglers.

Avoid shining bright torches or headlamps directly on the water, as this can spook cruising fish. Instead, use the red-light setting on your headlamp or allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Always exercise caution when fishing at night to ensure your safety.

150^th anniversary of trout fishing

Did you know the first legal trout fishing season in New Zealand started in Otago 150 years ago?

To celebrate, Fish & Game New Zealand is giving away 150 free day licences in each of the 12 regions. These exclusive licences are valid only for this Sunday, December 1 - the 150th anniversary day.

It's the perfect opportunity to introduce a friend or family member to trout angling. Be quick, as the 150 free day licences for the Otago Region are going fast!

Click here to apply for your licence:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJVQ9SB?Source=d

To read more about the 150^th anniversary story on our website, click here.

Planned works on Mt Aspiring Road

Anglers planning to fish the upper Matukituki River should be aware that in early December (2^nd-13^th), Downer will carry out works to construct a retaining wall along a section of Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Rd north of the Treble Cone access road near Glenfinnan Stream.

Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road will be closed near Glenfinnan Stream on weekdays for two weeks, including one 24-hour closure so concrete for the retaining wall can cure properly.

For more detailed information click here

Lowland streams

Riley Anderson with a lovely conditioned brown trout caught on a soft bait around the Clinton area. Photo: Riley Anderson

Anglers are still finding success on many lowland streams and rivers, with smelt and whitebait imitation soft baits proving highly effective.

Anglers are urged to make the most of these waters, before they become more challenging due to dropping levels and rising temperatures as the season progresses. For fly anglers, small Humpy or blowfly patterns paired with an unweighted pheasant tail nymph on a dropper are popular choices when fishing through farmland stretches.

Ryan from Hunting & Fishing Dunedin also reports that sea-run trout are also being caught in good numbers around the Clutha and Taieri river mouths, with the occasional kahawai providing thrilling action on light tackle.

Maniototo reservoirs

The Maniototo ‘put-and-take’ reservoirs have been fishing well in the past week.

Mike Weddell and Murray Smart caught some excellent-conditioned trout in Blakelys, Rutherfords and Mathias dams, including some fantastic maiden rainbows up to 4 and a half pounds. Mike says juvenile rainbow trout liberated by Otago Fish & Game into Blakelys this spring are already twice the size of those in Mathias, a testament to the excellent growing conditions in the former mentioned dam. Mike says they were all caught on damsel fly and corixa imitations.

Lake Wānaka live webcam

Want to know conditions at Lake Wānaka? Check this live webcam from the Wānaka water sports facility.

Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

A sprinkling of rain on Thursday will keep the lowland rivers fresh and cool, setting up ideal conditions for the weekend. Fine and calm weather is forecast for Saturday morning before easterly winds develop in the afternoon. Sunday offers a similar outlook, with calm and clear conditions in the morning transitioning to overcast skies as southerly winds pick up later in the day. Anglers are encouraged to take advantage of the still mornings before the winds arrive.

The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 11.3 cumecs. The water temperature was 17.6 egrees C.

Click here for live weather updates.

Wānaka

Don't forget the sunblock and water bottle this weekend if you're fishing around Wānaka. With light winds, warm temperatures climbing into the mid-20s, and clear skies forecast, conditions are shaping up to be ideal for angling. Rivers should be clearing, and the lakes are expected to remain calm, making it a perfect opportunity to dust off the boat or give your fishing tackle a pre-summer workout.

Click here for live weather updates.

Alexandra

Another calm weekend is forecast around Alexandra, with light winds and clear skies expected. The only potential drawback might be occasional cloud cover on Sunday, but otherwise, conditions should be ideal for exploring the local rivers or reservoirs.

Click here for live weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

Clear skies are forecast for the Lower Clutha this weekend, with westerly winds easing throughout both days. Flows on both the Pomahaka and Lower Clutha have dropped slightly, returning toward normal spring levels. However, anglers should anticipate the Lower Clutha to remain somewhat discoloured due to ongoing snowmelt from the upper catchments.

The Pomahaka River was flowing at 14 cumecs

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 835 cumecs.

Click here for live weather updates

For more ORC water monitoring and alerts information click here.

Grab your licence online and let the angling adventures begin.

Got any Otago fishing news?

Send your fishing news and photos (with anglers’ names) to otago@fishandgame.org.nz for consideration in the weekly report.